The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-19
A VERY QUIET MAN.
Lady Pardock's Opinion Of Modest
Captain Armstrong.

Mrs. Car1ewe stopped at our house one
day and said:
"Lucy, wish your husband could snare
you to come to the manor for a few days"
II dare say he could, mn'am," replied
Its not far, and our little maid gets on
with the children very handy"
'Wcll, ask him." she said. "Because Mr..
Cardewc and are expecting some friends,
and you might help me. You have not for
COTTON your old business, supposeW she
asked, smiling.
curtsed, and said: "No I could man
age hair-drcssing and so on very well as
lady's maidif fwanted."
SIT is rather to lo/. after Lady Pardock's
little boy" replied Mrs. Cardcwc. "IIe is
an only child-the heir to the property--and
must hnvo trustworthy person with him.
He has an attendant of course, but tho
nurse had been obliged to go home, UNDER
stand. Will you come for week or so!'
! said would, and Mrs. Cardewe seemed
pleased.
81 will write and tell Lady Pardocl1," she
said. ''Shc will not come unless her child
IS in good hands. and can now assure her."
i curistcd agnin, and thanked her for hcr
good opinion. She nodded pleasantly and
drove nwoy, saying:
"On Tuesday. thcn.'
When Charley camc back to tea he gave
me leave to go, and laughed about my leav-
ing my own children to look after the only
child Of Lady Padrock. who was the widow
Of the great barrister, tho gentleman who
had found the heir to the Norfolk estate.
"Whcn are you going to the manor." he
asked.
"On Tuesday, Charley-this is Friday--so
there's plenty Of time.
Tho company began to arrive at the manor
on the Monday. There were to be fourteen
quests, but l needn't name them all Mr..
Hemphfll and the Martyn-H -Hcnrys were in
vited nj separate times-but me remained
longer than he had at first intended-and
there was Captain in tho navy, a retired
officer named Armstrong, who wore beard
like the Duke of Edinburgh. He was a
nice, plain-spoken gentleman-vcry quiet,
and never seemed to put himself out for any
one. He had been asked TO meet Mr.. Hemp
hill who had yacht and was somewhat
nautical
Lady Pardock came, with nursemaid-
q plain, rather silly-looking, affectionate
girl-and the heir. He was seven years
old; sturdy, bold boy; Independent. but
as obcdient as have nevor seen a lad so
young. His mothers word was enough
he did rs he was hidden without question
ing or fretfulness. The young heir seemed
to like the sailor captain, who was full of
anecdotes and stories, but Lady Pardock
seemed to despise him a little. She was q
fine, handsome woman; tall, we'll made and
well dressed There was at times dreamy
look In her eyes, as if she were thinking of
the past or contemplating the future. She
WAS very energetic, though and could
walk, r.c. row. or sail q boat as well as
many men.
She and Captain Henry wore good friends.
she was interested in his mining and was
quite as ready 10 go down the minc as she
was TO sail in Mr.. Hemphilrs yacht, the
Firefy.
'sYou arc, Of course, great traveller
Captain Armstrong;" she said one day tc
the sailor. CWc heard good deal, ~
know, through the butler and other mer
servants, and saw a good deal of Lady
Pardock, and sometimes she talked to me.
'No," he replied. carelessly. ~ have
been about the world-nut much in it, A
sailor secs good deal, and there is some
thing worth seeing occasionally, too"
"IIavc you ever been In battlen sh,
asked again.
"Never, am thankful TO say" he re
piled.
''You arc surely-not-no seriousl" sh
said.
~ am quite scrious-f drcada battle. O
course, should fight if | had to do so-bu
trust never shall"
~ wonder you entered the navy, Captain
Armstrong" she half sneered "Yo,
should have been Quaker"
SIT was not my own choice, Lady Par
dock" he answered.
$40 ,von11 ynaLa an ovpoiiont
parsou." she remarked to her neighboi
Captain Martyn-Hcnry; and very 500
afterward the ladies left tho dining-room
From that time Lady Pnrdock seemed +
think tho sailor what Charley calls g
muff." Hc walked and sometimes sho
with the party in the stubbles--or hclpe
in tablcars, but never shone much in an
way. When Charley came in used to tel
him about the Captain.
"You know nothing about it," he wonl
say. "Captnin Armstrong shoots righ
straight; IL nc don't fro often he Away
kills In u worisman-liko way and doesn'
mangle the birds. What do you kno,
abont hint"
''Not much, indeed; but no doesn't seer
20 care much for any thing, and is YER
quiet"
$50 you think hos a 'muffr o, yo
women! Bccaubc u man DOESN'T DOast an
swell about like turkey-cock, you thin
he's got no spirit in him"
We'll, Charley, no ono could possibi
think ho mad any spirit. He's as mild a
milkn'
Bah ~ was nll my husband said. So
turned AWAY and went indoors TO my charg
Sir Jocelyn. He was n dear little fello,
and we got on very well together He wa
obedience itself, yet full offuu. There wer
excursions and boating parties, and, whe
Mr. Hemphll's yacht came In, plenty q
sailing. This delighted Lady Pnrdoclr, wh
many time went with INC, Jocelyn, Mi
Hemphill and Mrs. Cardewe and her hui
band. & hH &fa
One day we started to Lulworth coy,
They all had heard OF il, but few had eve
boeu there. The wind was blowing briskl
from tho southeast-a favorable quarter
and, as Mr.. Hemphill said; 'If II does vec
To the southwest, all the better; it wi
bring - home the faster"